Bill > SB884

This bill modifies Missouri's legal definition of optometry to expand the scope of practice for optometrists, primarily by allowing them to use injectable pharmaceutical agents and perform certain surgical procedures. The bill removes previous restrictions that prohibited optometrists from using injectable agents or performing surgery, instead establishing a detailed list of specific surgical procedures that optometrists can and cannot perform. The expanded practice now explicitly includes the ability to remove superficial foreign bodies, correct ocular abnormalities through surgical procedures, and prescribe and administer pharmaceutical agents more broadly. The bill creates a comprehensive list of excluded surgical procedures, such as retina laser procedures, lens extraction, and surgeries involving the cornea, iris, vitreous, and retina. The legislation also provides precise definitions for key terms like "eye", "adnexa", "diagnostic pharmaceutical agents", and "vision therapy". Notably, the bill requires the Missouri State Board of Optometry to continue reviewing surgical procedures not currently listed to determine their appropriateness within optometric practice. This change represents a significant expansion of optometrists' clinical capabilities while maintaining specific limitations to ensure patient safety.

Labor and Employment

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=372